The Franciscan Center for Social Concern's distinctive service programs set the standard for mission-oriented programming.

Every day, Bona students reach out to others in need. They have bonded with orphans in Guatemala, marched for human rights in D.C., and served up platefuls of warm meals at soup kitchens near campus and beyond.

Their service changes lives — including their own.

Read on to learn more...

Once an at-risk youth, Pamela Say-Witter, '01, is now a successful author, college administrator & small-business owner — thanks in part to Bona Buddies

"When I was a little girl -- growing up on a busy downtown street in the small city of Olean -- I faced distinct challenges.

My family was economically disadvantaged. Dad made $15,000 a year driving 400 miles a day to support a family of five. Mom cleaned houses on the side. In our town, it meant a lesser social status and fewer opportunities.

Though the seeds of dysfunction were planted, and would play out in my teenage years, something else -- something much more powerful -- would overcome them."

Read Pam's moving story, written in her own words >>

Stories of offering a hand up abound at Bona's

At 16, with no school newspaper available at his high school, Cameron Hurst shadowed a mentor at The Post-Journal in Jamestown, N.Y., hungry to learn journalism.

By 17 he became a stringer with the newspaper and an award-winning sports blogger.

Today he is a senior journalism and music double major at St. Bonaventure who has learned the power of the written word. Now this multimedia journalist is eager to share the tales of helping and healing found within the many programs of the Franciscan Center for Social Concern. 

Learn more about the stories that have captivated Cameron >>

For tech executive Mark Schmitt, '84, a lifetime of helping began with being a Bona Buddy

Though he holds nearly three decades of experieince as an executive in the tech industry, alumnus Mark Schmitt says his most satisfying work is helping improve the lives of others.

Schmitt credits his time as a Bona Buddy menor for setting him on the path to a lifetime of volunteer work.

Read about  the "Original Schmitt" and his volunteer work through the decades >>

Amy Moritz, '95, a longtime supporter of the Warming House, has found a fun way to support her "team" 

Alumna Amy Moritz, Class of 1995, donates to the Warming House each year based on the score of an annual basketball game between managers of the men's and women's basketball teams.

She challenges the Bona community to help light up the FCSC socreboard during the 2019 #GivingTuesdayatBonas!

Read about Amy's challenge to the Bona community

Kids' art, hula hoops and connections that matter

From teaching a child how to hula-hoop to watching her experience a nature hike for the first time and then receiving a hand-drawn picture as thanks, being a Bona Buddy mentor has brought senior Maggie Finley a connection that matters.

Today there are 73 pairs of Bona Buddies in this popular youth mentoring program on campus. Students like Maggie spend several hours each week building one-to-one relationships with local children ages five to 15.

Read more about Maggie's time as a Bona Buddy>>

Tying family and community together

We are all family when we sit down at the table and share a meal. That’s what the Levacs of Ontario learned through visiting the Warming House.

Alyssa Levac, a 2018 graduate of the 5-year BBA/MBA program, volunteered at the student-run soup kitchen throughout her undergraduate career. She also served as program manager while a graduate student.

Getting to know the guests on an individual basis was a highlight of her years of service — and having her parents visit was another.

“It was great to see my actual family and my Warming House family sharing a meal and conversation together,” she said.

Read more about Alyssa's Warming House experience>>

For guests & volunteers alike, the Warming House nourishes body and soul

All who gather around the table and share a meal are family.

That’s the tenet of the Warming House, the oldest student-run soup kitchen in the country, which serves approximately 6,000 meals annually and is staffed by dozens of student and community volunteers

For Paul Nana Afful (pictured second from left), working at the Warming House offers him the opportunity to show kindness to others.

Learn more about Paul and the Warming House>>

Bona's plentiful food pantry

A Bonnie believes no one should go hungry.

That’s why the Franciscan Center for Social Concern (FCSC) has created the SBU Food Pantry.

“The face of hunger can be as close as the person beside you,” said Alice Miller Nation, director of the FCSC. “The food pantry is a way for all members of the campus community to have consistent access to nutritious food.”

Learn more about the new SBU Food Pantry>>